Pritzker defends his handling of the pandemic, attacks Republicans in budget speech. ‘In a normal year, I might have more patience for their hypocrisy.’ – Chicago Tribune*

The governor quickly shifted into attacking Republicans nationally and on the local level over their response to the pandemic, though the Illinois GOP holds no statewide offices and is in a super-minority in the General Assembly, leaving Democrats in control to act without their input...“In essence, they eliminated the fire department, burned down the house and poured gas on the flames — and now they’re asking why we’re not doing more to prevent fires,” Pritzker said of Republicans.